Your Public Speaking Secret Tool

Smiling, by any measure, is a win-win for you and your speaking audience.

Your Public Speaking Secret Tool

Smiling is one of your greatest assets as a presenter.  It is beneficial for you and your audience because it establishes a positive aura, demonstrates confidence, hides fear, and increases engagement.

It is said that it takes forty-three muscles to frown and only seventeen to smile. You always make others more comfortable when you look happy. Smiling also keeps us physically and emotionally healthy and can actually improve your public speaking. When you display a positive and relaxed mood during your presentation you can better handle unexpected events such as negative feedback and tough questions.

Smiling before you present increases your chances of capturing the attention of your audience members and engaging them for fully.

We know from the science that smiling to an audience activates mirror neurons and helps to bring a smile to the face of our audience. Remember smiles are wildly contagious. This, by any measure, is a win-win for you and your speaking audience.

This research is pretty clear: Smiling changes your state of mind even if you are in another not so positive state such as anxiety or fear. So why not take a small step in your speaking practice and share a smile. Your audience will love you for it and you will feel the positive difference. Embrace the positive and be a better speaker – smile!

Smiling is part of this non-verbal message to our audience that we are projecting a powerful and positive presence. Smiling sends a positive cue to our audience, communicates our openness, puts our audience in a positive state of mind.

We smile when we're happy, right? But there has been a lot of research done showing that a smile actually works both ways. Yes, when you feel happy, when you feel content, or when you see or hear something funny you smile! 

But also, even if you're not happy or if you're just in a regular mood but you make yourself smile, that sends a signal to your brain that you are happy. All of a sudden, all the physical signs start acting like you are happy. 

So, whether you're happy or not just the simple act of smiling puts you in a better mood. And what happens when you're in a better mood? You feel more relaxed. You feel more confident. You feel more calm.

Where would you use a smile in public speaking?

Number one, you want to smile before you go on stage. The mere act of smiling can put an anxious or scared person into a calmer, more confident state. So, give it a try. 

You may feel nervous. You may feel a little shaky. But take a deep breath and smile, really smile. Really extend your lips. And stand like this for a few seconds and see how it affects your whole mood and your whole physical being.

Now that your smile relaxed you a little bit, you’re going to use your second smile. As you are walking on stage or as you are coming on the live video for example you are going to smile to your audience. That's the first thing you're going to do before you open your mouth to say anything. The first couple of seconds is just you smiling. 

Now it has to be a sincere, genuine, and authentic smile. I'm not talking about a fake smile where you're smiling, and you really don't mean it. No, you have to mean it! You have to smile like you mean it. 

Look at your audience, look at your camera if it's a video and smile. What does a smile do? It shows your friendliness towards your audience. It shows your sincerity towards your audience. It shows that you want to be there. It shows that you're a nice person. So, remember to smile as soon as you get on stage.

And third, smile during your presentation. Now of course you could be talking about something serious, it could be somber topic, and you may not be able to smile about it. But if there is a chance, definitely smile at your audience. Again, it helps you connect with them. 

It helps you engage with them. It puts not only you in a better mood and in a more calm and confident state, but also your audience. Because remember, a real genuine smile is very contagious.

There are two things I want you to try,

(i) First, practice smiling when you don't even feel like smiling. As you're going about your day and you're doing your everyday stuff just take a second, stop, and smile sincerely, happily. Let people think you're crazy. But smile and watch how your body reacts. You are going to feel it almost immediately. How you are beginning to feel better. How your mood improves. How your heart rate decreases. How you're becoming less stressed and more confident. 

(ii) And the second thing I want you to try is to smile at some random people. Again, in a very sincere, genuine way. Maybe you're in the store or paying for your purchase. I want you to smile at the cashier, a real nice genuine smile. And see what the smile does, because what you’re going to feel is that not only will it relax you and put you in a better mood, but the other person will most likely, if not smile back, they will still light up.

Here are four more reasons you should smile when presenting,

(1) It Makes You Feel Better: Smiling helps you to feel more comfortable and also helps to reduce any tension you may be experiencing, especially when you are nervous before delivering your talk.  Since it is contagious, it attracts a positive atmosphere that allows for a more engaging atmosphere. 

(2) It Can Hide Your True Emotions: Smiling helps to mask any nervous feelings you may be experiencing and can make you more optimistic.  Smiling more can actually change how you are feeling at that moment, helping you to forget those uneasy feelings so that you do not make your audience uncomfortable. 

(3) It Demonstrates Confidence: Smiling helps to boost your confidence, making the audience see you as more competent and attractive.  In addition, a strong tone of voice also helps to make the audience view you positively as you sound more confident. 

(4) It Increases Audience Engagement: You must prioritize your audience’s needs.  As your presentation is all about meeting the expectations of that audience, your goal must be to engage them and make them feel that they are involved in the presentation and that you are speaking directly to the individuals in the audience.  

Smiling helps to build positive relationships and gives you the confidence to establish direct eye contact with as many individuals as possible during your presentation. 

Remember, smiling is one of your greatest assets as a presenter.  It is beneficial for you and your audience because it establishes a positive aura, demonstrates confidence, hides fear, and increases engagement.

Let your smile be one of your greatest assets. Keep that old saying in mind as you get ready to speak, “Smile and the world smiles with you."

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